Apparatus for control of travel of sheets

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for control of travel of sheets, such as paper-like sheets, as the sheets move in seriatim relationship from sheet feed mechanism such as a burster or other mechanism from which the sheets move at a relatively high rate and must be controlled for stacking or the like. The apparatus includes means for automatically stopping operation thereof if undesirable conditions exist in the sheets.

United States Patent [191 Parenti et a1.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 1 APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF TRAVEL OF SHEETS [75] Inventors: Frank V. Parenti; Robert W.

Staneck, both of Dayton, Ohio [73] Assignee: The Standard Register Company,

Dayton, Ohio 22 Filed: Apr. 26, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 354,526

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 103,620, Jan. 4, 1971, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 271/263, 192/127, 226/25 [51] Int. Cl B65h 7/06 [58] Field of Search 271/57, 47, 56, 262, 263;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,077,818 11/1913 Eagar ..27l/57X 1,218,988 3/1917 Droitcour 271/57 3,287,015 l1/l966 Preuss et a1... 271/57 3,722,773 3/1973 Plate et al 271/57 X Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-Bruce H. Stoner, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmJacox & Meckstroth [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for control of travel of sheets, such as paper-like sheets, as the sheets move in seriatim relationship from sheet feed mechanism such as a burster or other mechanism from which the sheets move at a relatively high rate and must be controlled for stacking or the like. The apparatus includes means for automatically stopping operation thereof if undesirable conditions exist in the sheets.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANWBYB 3.860.234

sum 10$ 3 APPARATUS'FOR CONTROL OF TRAVEL OF SHEETS RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of Patent Application Ser. No. 103,620, filed Jan. 4, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,741,451.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide apparatus for control of the movement of sheets which travel in seriatim relationship, each of the sheets moving at a relatively high rate from a feed mechanism to support structure or the like for stacking thereof or for any other operation thereupon.

It is another object to provide such apparatus which automatically ceases operation when abnormal conditions of sheets exists.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of the invention, combinations thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded type of view, with parts broken away and shown in section of burster apparatus with which the apparatus of this invention may be associated.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing roller members and associated elements in apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view, drawn on a smaller scale than FIG. 1, showing a typical web which is operated upon by the apparatus of this invention when the roller members thereof are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the roller members in another rotative position of operation.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 but showing another type of web structure which may be operated upon by apparatus of this invention. I

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing pairs of roller members spaced closer together than in FIG. 2 for operation upon a type of web structure such as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the roller members in a different rotative position of operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Burster mechanism with which apparatus of this invention may be associated comprises a pair of spacedapart web feed devices 24 between which a continuous web 26 is disposed. The web 26 comprises a series of forms or sheets separated by perforation or score lines 27. The web 26 may consist of a single thickness or ply or a plurality of thicknesses or plies. The web feed devices 24 may be of any suitable type, but preferably, have movable pin elements, not shown, which are positionable within apertures 28 at the edges of the web 26 for movement thereof. The web feed devices 24 may be of the type disclosed in pending Application Ser. No. 71,727, filed Sept. 14, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,688,959 entitled Pin Belt Mechanism for Movement of a Continuous Strip. The web feed devices 24 are supported upon a drive shaft 32 and upon a support shaft 34.

Spaced from the web feed devices 24 are an upper gripper roll 38 and a lower gripper roll 40. The gripper rolls 38 and 40 are in parallel juxtaposition. The upper gripper roll 38 is secured to a shaft 42 for rotation therewith. The lower gripper roll 40 is secured to a shaft 44 for rotation therewith. The shafts 42 and 44 are rotatably supported adjacent the ends thereof by a support member 50 which is shown at the left part of FIG. 1 and a support member 54 which is shown at the right part of FIG. 1.

A motor 56 of any suitable type is attached to the shaft 42, by any suitable means, for rotation thereof. A gear 58 is attached to the shaft 42 and is in meshed relationship with a gear 60 which is attached to the shaft 44.

The shaft 42-extends through the support member 50 and has attached thereto a gear 62 which is in meshed relationship with a gear 64 which is attached to a shaft 66 which is rotatably carried by any suitable means such as the support member 50. Also attached to the shaft 66 for rotation therewith is a bevel gear 68 which is in meshed relationship with a bevel gear 70, which is carried by a shaft 72. The shaft 72 may be polygonal in cross section or splined, or the like. The shaft 72 -is rotatably supported by brackets 74-and 76, which are attached to the support member 50. The shaft 72 also carries a bevel gear which is movable axially upon the shaft 72. The bevel gear 80 is in meshed relationship with a bevel gear 82 which is attached to a shaft 84-. The shaft 84 is rotatably supported by a plate 86, shownin FIG. 1. The shaft 84' also supports a gear 92-, whichis in meshed relationship with a gear 94which is supported by a shaft 114 which is supported by the plate 86.-The shaft 114 extends through the plate 86 and has attached thereto an upper burst roll 116. The gear 94 is in meshed relationship with a gear 98 which is attached to a shaft 100 which is supportedby-the plate 86. An idler gear 102 is in meshed relationship with the gear 98 and a gear 104, which is attached to a shaft 148 which extends through the plate 86.

The shaft 114 is also rotatably supported by a plate which has wheels 122 attached thereto which are rotatably supported upon a rail 124. Therail 124 is attached to the support member 54.

The shaft 114 has attached thereto a gear 126 which is in meshed relationship with a gear 128 which is attached to a shaft 130. The shaft 130 is rotatably supported by the plate 120 and the plate 86. The shaft 130 carries a burst roll 132 which is in juxtaposition withthe burst roll 116 and parallel thereto.

Adjacent the burst roll 116 and supported by the plates 86 and 120 is a rod 134, shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6, and 7. A sleeve 136, which is also shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7 encompasses the rod 134 and is pivotal with respect thereto. Angularly shaped arm members are attached to the sleeve 136 and extend downwardly therefrom in a direction away from the burst roll 116 and the burst roll 132, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7. Each of the arms 140 has a lower end portion which is normally spaced at small distance above a substantially horizontal table 142, which extends to the-right from the burst rolls 116 and 132, as shown in FIGS. 1,

2, 4, 6 and 7. Slidably supported upon the table 142 is an adjustable extension 144, shown in FIGS. 2, 6, and 1 Attached to each of the arms 140 and extending toward the burst roll 116 is a deflector member 145.

A spring member 143, shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7, partially encompasses the rod 134, and is attached to the rod 134 and to the sleeve 136. The spring member 143 urges pivotal movement of the sleeve 136 counterclockwise, as viewed in these figures.

Attached to the arm 140 which is adjacent the plate 86 is an actuator finger 147 which engages a roller 149 at the end of a switch finger 151 of a switch 153.

Disposed upon the table 142 are the upper portions of a plurality of elongate continuous belts 146, which encompass the shaft 148 and a shaft 150 for rotative movement thereby. The shafts 148 and 150 are rotatively supported by flanges 152 which are attached to the table 142. One of the flanges 152 is joined to the plates 86 and 120 for movement therewith. As stated above, the shaft 148 extends through the support member 50 and has the gear 98 attached thereto. Rotation of the gear 98 thus causes rotation of the shaft 148. Flexible chains 156, or the like, on either side of the table 142, encompass gear members 158 which are attached to the shafts 148 and 150 for rotation of the shaft 150 with rotation of the shaft 148.

The table 142 adjacent and abve the shaft 150 carries a rack 160 which has a pair of spaced-apart panels 162 extending normally therefrom. The panels 162 are adjustably carried by the rack 160 for closer or greater spacing between the panels 162.

The gripper roll 38 and the gripper roll 40 may comprise a plurality of spaced segments or each of these rolls may have peripheral slots 166 therein as shown in FIG. 1. The slots 166 in the roll 38 are in alignment with the slots 166 in the roll 40.

A plurality of tape housings 170 are supported by a bar 171, there being one tape housing 170 adjacent each pair of slots 166. Each tape housing 170 has a tape 172 extending therefrom. The bar 171 is attached to the support members 50 and 54. Each tape 172 has a coiled portion within its respective housing 170 and resilient means within each housing 170 urges rotative movement of the coiled portion for drawing the tape 172 into the housing. The end of each tape 172 is attached to a bar 176 which is carried by the plates 86 and 120 and which is adjacent the burst roll 116 and substantially parallel thereto.

Above the bar 176 and parallel thereto is a bar 178 which supports a plurality of deflector fingers 180. The burst rolls 116 and 132 have spaced-apart aligned slots 182, shown in FIG. 1, and the deflector fingers 180 are disposed therewithin. The bar 178 is pivotally carried by the plates 86 and 120, and a resilient member 183 urges counterclockwise pivotal movement thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. The bar 176 has an engagement lug 184.

Below the gripper roll 40 is a rod 186 which is supported by the support members 50 and 54. The rod 186 includes a spring, not shown, which urges rotative movement thereof in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2.

Wrapped upon the rod 186 is a flexible curtain-like member 190 which extends upwardly from the rod 186 and over a stationary rod 192 and extends to a bar 194 to which the end of the flexible curtain member is attached. The bar 194 is supported by the plates 86 and 120 adjacent the burst roll 132.

Below the bar 171 is a bar 198, shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7, which supports a plurality of support fingers 200, each of which is disposed within a pair of the aligned slots 166 in the rolls 38 and 40.

The shaft 42, to which the roll 38 is attached also supports a pair of brackets 204, there being one bracket 204 at each end of the roll 38. Each bracket 204 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 42. A plunger 206 which is carried by the left bracket shown in FIG. 1 is movable into a hole 208, in the support member 50, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 or is movable into another hole, not shown, but which retains the brackets 204 in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. The brackets 204 have attached thereto a rod 210 and a rod 212 which extend substantially parallel to the roll 38. The rods 210 and 212 have attached thereto a plurality of wedge blocks 214, each of which has a stem 216 which is laterally adjustably movable along the rods 210 and 212.

The gripper roll 38 is shown as having a reduced radius portion or surface portion 220, which is shown as being coplanar, and a reduced radius portion or surface portion 222, which is shown as being coplanar. The coplanar portions or surfaces 220 and 222 are at opposite parts of the roll 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7. These same figures show that the burst roll 116 has a plurality of contiguous reduced radius portions or surfaces, herein shown as being coplanar portions or surfaces 224.

The burst rolls 116 and 132, as stated above, are pro vided with annular slots 182, which have the deflector fingers 180 extending therewithin. The burst roll 116 also has grooves 229, each of which has a resilient or elastomeric element 230 therewithin. Preferably, the element 230 is an annular body of elastomeric material which tightly encompasses the roll 116, within each groove 229. Each element 230 is in alignment with a groove 234 of the burst roll 132. The elastomeric element 230 may extend beyond the groove 229 only at the flat or coplanar portions 224, or the elastomeric element 230 may extend very slightly from the groove 229 throughout the periphery of the burst roll 116, as indicated in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 7.

Rotatably attached to the support member 54 in spaced relationship are sprocket members 240 and 242. Rotatably attached to the plate is a sprocket 244 and two adjacent idler wheels 246, as shown in FIG. 1.

Rotatably attached to the support member 54 is a shaft 250 which has secured thereto for rotation therewith a sprocket 252. A hand wheel 253 is also attached to the shaft 250 for rotation thereof. Adjacent the shaft 250, the support member 54 rotatably supports an idler wheel 254. A continuous chain 255 or other flexible member encompasses the sprockets 240, 242, 244 and 252. The chain 255 engages the idler wheels 246 and 254. The sprocket 244 is attached to a shaft 260 which extends through the plate 120 and has attached thereto a gear 262, which is in meshed relationship with an elongate rack 264 which is supported by the support member 54 and extends therealong. The shaft 260 also extends to a rack 266 which is supported by the support member 50. A gear, not shown, is similar to the gear 262 and is attached to the shaft 260 adjacent the rack 266 and is in meshed relationship therewith.

Pedestals 270 are attached to the table 142 adjacent opposite sides thereof and have a bar 272 attached thereto which extends across the table 142. The bar 272 has a plurality of stems 274 attached thereto and adjustably positionable therealong. Each stem 274 rotatably carries a guide disc 276.

OPERATION As stated above and as shown the burst rolls 116 and 132 are rotatably supported by the plates 86 and 120, and the plates 86 and 120 are movable along their respective support members 50 and 54. The position of the burst rolls 116 and 132 is adjusted with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40 in the manner described in Patent Application Ser. No. 103,620, now US. Pat. No. 3,741,451.

FIG. 3 illustrates a typical continuous web 26 which is operated upon by apparatus of this invention when the apparatus is adjusted in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The burst rolls 116 and 132 are adjusted with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40 so that the spacing therebetween is approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent score lines 27 of the web 26, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Bursting action occurs in the manner described in the aforesaid patent. Tension within the web 26 in the bursting action causes the web 26 to sever, and a sheet or form 26a is removed from the web 26. Preferably, bursting action occurs when a perforation line 27 is adjacent the wedge blocks 214. The sheet 26a is moved by the burst rolls 116 and 132 in a direction away from the remainder of the web 26. The sheets 26a thus are moved to the table 142 in such movement, some or all of the sheets 26a may engage the deflector member 145 and are thus directed downwardly. The sheets 26a are moved along the table 142 by the belts 146 to an upwardly extending stack S at the right hand portion of the apparatus, as viewed in FIG. 1. The guide plates 276 cooperate with the belts 146 in the movement of the sheets 26a to the stack S thereof.

FIG. 5 shows another typical continuous web 326 which may be operated upon by the apparatus of this invention. The continuous web 326 may be a card stock or paper stock web and may comprise a series of tabulator cards, or the like, 326a which are attached in series relationship by means of a stub 330 which has score lines or perforation lines 332.

For operation upon a web such as the web 326 of FIG. 5, the burst rolls 116 and 132 are moved close to the gripper rolls 38 and 40, as shown in FIG. 6. Before this occurs, the wedge blocks 214 are moved out of the normal position shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, which is between the gripper rolls 38 and 40 and the burst rolls 116 and 132, to a position above the gripper roll 38, as illustrated in FIG. 6. In such movement of the wedge blocks 214, the plunger 206 is withdrawn from the hole in the support member 50 and the brackets 204 are then pivotally moved about the shaft 42 to a position in which the plunger 206 is movable into the hole 208 in the support member 50.

Thus, the wedge blocks 214 are positioned as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. In such position the lug 184 engages the support member 50 and the bar 178 is pivotally moved in a clockwise direction. Thus, the deflector fingers 180 are moved downwardly toward the roll 132.

The extension 144 is moved in a direction away from the roll 132. Thus, the stubs 330 which are separated during the burst operation fall downwardly between the extension 144 and the burst roll 132, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The larger sheets or cards 336a move to the table 142, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Some or all of the sheets or cards 326a may engage the deflector member 145 and are thus deflected downwardly.

If, for some reason, the sheets 26a or the cards or sheets 326a should not move properly along the table 142 and a build-up thereof should occur, the arms are lifted by such sheets or cards and the sleeve 136 is pivotally moved upon the rod 134. The spring or resilient member 143 assists in such pivotal movement. Therefore, the arms 140 are very sensitive to such build-up. When the sleeve 136 is pivotally moved, the actuator 147 is moved. Thus, the switch 153 is operated. By this means, control mechanism may cause deenergization of the motor 56 and operation of the apparatus ceases.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operations, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. Apparatus for control of travel of sheets comprisa substantially horizontal support surface,

a shaft disposed above the support surface substantially parallel thereto,

a sleeve encompassing the shaft and rotatable with respect thereto,

resilient means engaging the shaft and the sleeve and urging pivotal movement 'of the sleeve,

a plurality of sheet guide arms extending from the sleeve,

means attaching the guide arms to the sleeve for movement therewith,

the arms having end portions adjacent the support surface,

the resilient means engaging the sleeve and urging pivotal movement thereof in a direction to move the arms away from the support surface,

the arms including deflector means adapted to be engaged by rapidly traveling sheets to guide and direct the sheets toward the support surface, the arms being adapted to move in a direction from the support surface when force of the sheets upon the arms is sufficient for such movement of the arms,

such movement of the arms being assisted by the resilient means and causing pivotal movement of the sleeve with respect to the shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes switch means, and means operably connected to the arms for operation of the switch means with movement of the arms.

3. Jam detector mechanism for apparatus which moves sheets from a first location to a second location comprising:

support means adjacent the second location,

a pair of feed rolls between which sheets travel, the feed rolls being adjacent the first location and spaced from the support means and causing the sheets to travel rapidly from the first location toward the second location,

means operatively joining the sensor unit to the switch means for operation of the switch means with pivotal movement of the sensor unit when the guide arm moves in a direction from the support means,

an abnormal condition of sheets between the support means and the arm causing movement of the guide arm in a direction from the support means, thus causing operation of the switch means. 

1. Apparatus for control of travel of sheets comprising: a substantially horizontal support surface, a shaft disposed above the support surface substantially parallel thereto, a sleeve encompassing the shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, resilient means engaging the shaft and the sleeve and urging pivotal movement of the sleeve, a plurality of sheet guide arms extending from the sleeve, means attaching the guide arms to the sleeve for movement therewith, the arms having end portions adjacent the support surface, the resilient means engaging the sleeve and urging pivotal movement thereof in a direction to move the arms away from the support surface, the arms including deflector means adapted to be engaged by rapidly traveling sheets to guide and direct the sheets toward the support surface, the arms being adapted to move in a direction from the support surface when force of the sheets upon the arms is sufficient for such movement of the arms, such movement of tHe arms being assisted by the resilient means and causing pivotal movement of the sleeve with respect to the shaft.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes switch means, and means operably connected to the arms for operation of the switch means with movement of the arms.
 3. Jam detector mechanism for apparatus which moves sheets from a first location to a second location comprising: support means adjacent the second location, a pair of feed rolls between which sheets travel, the feed rolls being adjacent the first location and spaced from the support means and causing the sheets to travel rapidly from the first location toward the second location, a pivotally mounted sensor unit, including: a pivotally mounted shaft, a guide arm attached to the shaft and extending therefrom, the guide arm including deflector means engageable by the sheets so that the sheets traveling rapidly from the feed rolls engage the deflector means and are directed by the deflector means toward the support means, resilient means engaging the sensor unit and urging pivotal movement of the guide arm in a direction from the support means, switch means, means operatively joining the sensor unit to the switch means for operation of the switch means with pivotal movement of the sensor unit when the guide arm moves in a direction from the support means, an abnormal condition of sheets between the support means and the arm causing movement of the guide arm in a direction from the support means, thus causing operation of the switch means. 